How old is someone named Nelly?
The average Nelly is 29 years old.
Half of all living Nellys are between 13 and 42.
When was Nelly popular?
Nelly was popular around 1884, faded for decades, and is back: 182 babies got the name in 2025.
Popular names of 2007 · The most popular names of the 2000s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 62 | 0 |
| 1910s | 130 | 0 |
| 1920s | 210 | 0 |
| 1930s | 162 | under 100 |
| 1940s | 160 | under 100 |
| 1950s | 384 | 300 |
| 1960s | 428 | 380 |
| 1970s | 634 | 600 |
| 1980s | 770 | 740 |
| 1990s | 973 | 950 |
| 2000s | 1,627 | 1,600 |
| 2010s | 1,354 | 1,300 |
| 2020s | 897 | 890 |
How many Nellys are still alive?
About 6,900 Nellys are alive in the US today. That's 88% of the roughly 7,900 babies named Nelly since 1882.
Most Nellys ever born are still alive.
What generation is the name Nelly?
About one in three living Nellys are in Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012.
Is Nelly an old name?
Not really. Nelly is younger than 51 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Nelly will be 36 in 2056, so the name is aging slowly.
Is Nelly a boy or girl name?
Mostly girls: 98.9% of living Nellys are women.
Names the same age as Nelly
NAME TWIN
Nelly's name twin is Mariano. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Mariano's age curve is the closest match to Nelly's: 91% alike.
Other spellings: Nellie (58)
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Questions about the name Nelly
How old is the average Nelly?
The average Nelly in the US is 29 years old. The median is 24, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Nelly?
About 6,900 Nellys are alive in the US today, out of roughly 7,900 babies given the name since 1882.
When was the name Nelly most popular?
In 2007, when about 210 baby girls were named Nelly.
Is Nelly a Gen Z name?
Partly. Gen Z are the largest group, about 34% of living Nellys, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this